Attachment for knitting-machines.



No. 694,l95. Patented Feb. 25, 1902. B. ROHLEDER. ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

(Application filed. May 15, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

I lg zgier ROBERT Fiol-[LEuEq bgit wses 7 No. 694,195. 1 Patented Feb., 25. I902.

R. BDHLEDER.

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

(Application filed May 15, 1901.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE uunms wzrzns co. PHOI ounm, WASHXNGTON. o. c.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT ROHLEDER, or TROY, NEW YO K, ASSIGNOR or ONE-FOURTH To ALFRED BUFE, or TRoY, EW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 694,195, dated February 25, 1902. I Appnman filetlMay 15. 1901. Serial No. 60,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT ROHLEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented. a new and useful Attachment for Knitting-Machin es, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for a circular-knitting machine, and pertains particularly to means for feeding the yarn to the needles, the objects in view being to provide a lining in the tube to centrally and positively position the shaft carrying the toothed crimper, bur, or stitch-wheel and to have said shaft adjustable, to prevent the shaft from shaking, and to provide simple and effective means for setting the toothed crimpers, burs, feed or stitch wheels so that when the holding or supporting means of one is :o substituted for another which has been removed the last-applied device of this class will occupy the same position as its predecessor.

The invention consists in the construction 2 5 and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a portion of a knitting-machine in section,-with parts in elevation and the improved device applied thereto and shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved attachment, showing the feed or stitch wheel holder partially in section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved attachment without the feed or stitch wheel holder; Fig. t is a transverse vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of a portion of the indicator attachmentin reversed position. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of the latter attachment. Fig. 9

is a longitudinal vertical sectionjthrough the indicator attachment. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 10 10, Fig. 6, showing the manner of joining the indicator attachment to a portion of the tube. Fig. 11 represents detail perspective views of the feed or stitch wheel holder and the shaft or rod extremity for supportingthe same. Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of the shaft or red and the lining, together with the parts intimately related thereto. Fig. 13 is a detail view, partially in section and partially in elevation, showing the preferred mode of having the clampingscrews engage the grooves therefor.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. 7 i

The numeral 1 designates a tube having an inner bracket 2 at an angle of inclination thereto, as usual, and removably attachable to a standard 3, rising from the bed of machine, the said bracket being made vertically adjustable in most machine organizations for reasons which will be readily understood in the art. The outer end of the tube is formed with an integral collar 4, having a set-screw 7o 5 mounted'in the lower portion thereof, and movably mounted in the tube is what is termed a lining 6, consisting mainly of a sleeve 7, which snugly enters the bore of the tube and has an intermediate spring-chamher 8, the portion of the lining that is located adjacent to the collar 4 having a circumferential groove 9 formed therein to receive the endof the set-screw 5, the latter when tightened up preventing the lining from having rotary movementf in the tube. The lining continues outwardly beyond the collar 4 and has an integral disk 10 to closely bear against the latter, and continuing from the disk is an outer tubular member 11, extending out- Wardly a short distance from said disk.

Movably extending through the center of the sleeve 7 and the lining as an entirety is a shaft or rod 12, which has its inner extremity normally projected beyond the end of said sleeve, and the innner end of said sleeve is also extended inwardly beyond the bracket 2 to give the shaft or rod a stable support. The innner end of the shaft or rod is reduced,

as at 13, and formed with a circumferential 5 groove 14., a shoulder or stop projection 15 being located at the outer terminal of the inner reduced end of the shaft, which is adapted to contact withthe adjacent end of the sleeve of the lining to limit the outward longitudi- IOO nal movement or adjustment of the said shaft. The inner extremity of the sleeve of thc lining is jmpertorate ina transverse or dia; metrical direction, and the larger. portionlfi of the shaft or rod has bearing therein, this arrangement providing a strong and durable structure at the point where the greatest strain is concentrated, and from the outer terminal of the said larger portion of the shaftor rod the latter is reduced completely to its outer terminal. Communicating with the spring-chamber 8 are diametricallyppposed slots 17, and secured at the inner terminal of the reduced portion of the shaft or rod is a guide-nut 18, which is held on the shaft or rod by a set-screw 19, and said nut projects laterally through the slots 17 to preventthe shaft or rod from turning in the lining or the sleeve of the latter. The nut has free longitudinal movement in the chamber 8, and surrounding the shaft or rod between the same and the outer end of said chamber is a spring 20, which operates to project the shaft or rod inwardly its full extent in accordance with the adjustment. The outer portion of the rod or shaft is formed with screw-threads 21, which are engaged by an outer adjustingmut 22, provided with an outer milled flange or head 23, and by moving the said nut'22 in opposite directions the inward projection or on t- Ward retraction of the shaft or rod can be positively controlled. The nut 22 and the outer tubular member llof the lining have a sleeve 24 slidingly mounted thereon and pro vided With an outer milled head 25, the sleeve being also formed with opposite slots 26 and 27, through which pins 28 and 29 from the tubular member 11 of the lining project. The

pins 28 and 29 are firmly secured in the member 11, and over the upper portion of the sleeve24a mantle 30 is mounted and has opposite slots 31 near the ends, which are enn gaged by set-screws 32, andis also provided with end projections 33, against which a tool or .othe'rpressing device may be placed for moving the said mantle around the sleeve on which it is applied. The mantle has a slot therein, as at 34, which registers with the slot 26 of the sleeve 24, and through the slot in the mantle the pin 28 also extends. The purpose of this mantle is to take up orcompensate for wear of the parts and prevent shaking movement of the shaft or rod,and to accomplish this themantle is pushedover in either direction, as may be desired, to have the one side wall of the slot 34 therein contact with the pin 28. The milled head of the sleeve 24 is provided with a set-screw 35, which is intended to engage a circumferential groove36 in'the body of the nut 22 to hold the latter stationary on the screw-th readed portion of the rod or shaft and cause it to move unitedly with the said sleeve 24. On the outer extremityof the rod or shaft a jam-nut 37 is applied for obvious reasons.

The inner reduced end 13 of the shaft or rod is removably engaged by a holder 38, comprising a flat arm 39, having an upwardlyprojecting stud 40 at its inner end to receive in replacing said holder and the wheel or bur carried thereby it is also necessary that the wheel or bur be reapplied ii -relation to the knitting mechanism and the fabric at precisely the same point from which it was removed and at the same angle, or if another .wheel or bur-is substituted the same accuracy must be effected. It has heretofore been difficult to accomplish accurate resetting, and to renderthis. Operation positive and accurate under' all conditions thesleeve 42 has radial slots 44 communicatingwith the bore thereof, two being shownin thepresent instance to obtain two angular positions, .to engagea radi ally-disposed pin 45 on the reduced end 13 of the rod or shaft close to the shoulder 15, and it will be seen that the operative having observed what slot was in engagementwith the pin when the holderw was removed can very easily reapply the said holder in the same po: sition with a knowledge that the adjustment must be correct.

Means are also provided in the present improved construction for accuratelyadjusting the angle of the Wheel or bur carried by the holder and which is easily madev possible through the lining set forth. The upper portion of the collar 4 is cut away to forma suitable seat for a block 46, having a' lower slot 47, with legs 48 and inturned feet 49.." The said slot 47 has a curved recess 47. opening thereinto and located in the center ofthe block 46, and the seat in the collar 4has inwardly-.

projecting angular recesses 48 toreoeive the legs 48 and inturned feet 49 of the block, as clearly shown by Fig. 6 and also indicated in horizontal section in Fig. 10. The manner ofv applying the block to the seat is clearly shown by Fig. 10, and it will be seen that said block is pushed inwardly over the collar 4, and in such operation the recess 47 clears the adjacent cylindrical portion of the device or lining 6 to permit the latter tobe rotated. .It. will be understood that the collar 4 is cut .out in forming the seat for the block 46 ,in such manner as tqpermit the block to be readily.

applied or removed by moving it longitudinally in" relation to the collar, the legs and feet of the block extending only partly through the thickness of the block, asclearly indicated by Fig. 9, so that when the block is pushed inwardly over the collar a flush fitting of the block in relation to the collar will ensue, and the block can thus be also accurately applied. The upper edge of the blook is inclined downwardlyand outwardly IIO and is formed in the arc of a circle and provided with scale-marks 50, representing angle degrees, and below the said upper edge the block is constructed with a transversely-extending horizontally-disposed recess 51, opening out at the rear and having a traveler 52 mounted therein and provided with a rearwardly-projecting stud 53.' The traveler has an adjusting screw-rod 5i passing there through, the latter being held against longitudinal movement and having'a turn disk or head on one end at one side of the block.- The disk 10 at the rear portion of the lining is formed with'an integralindicator'56,which has an upper angular end movable over the upper edge of the block and is also provided with a recess 57 to receive the stud 53 of the traveler, whereby the adjustment of the traveler by rotating the rod 54 will shift the indicator 56 in an arc and correspondingly move the lining and the shaft or rod to thereby regulate the angle of the holder and the feed or stitch wheela-s may be desired.

The several improvements set forth will avoid many disadvantages now encountered in this class of devices, and various adj ustments can be obtained by simple operations and without disa'ssociating the parts. Wear is compensated for at every point, and the shaft or rod is always trulyheld in the center of the tube and prevented from shaking or other irregular movement. The nut 22, together with the parts it engages, particularly the shaft or rod, regulates the pressure of the spring, and thereby controls the pressure of the feed or stitch wheel against the needles, the said spring also making the wheel self-adjustable by allowing the same to pass any knots or imperfections in the yarn. The control of the several adjustable features is also attainable at the outer end of the attachment and is thus conveniently accessible.

As shown by Fig. 13, it is proposed to have all the set or clamping screws contact with a portion of one wall only of the grooves in the parts with which they coact, particularly where movement of the grooved part takes place, to avoid wear and frictional bind as much as possible.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. In an attachment of the class set forth,

' the combination of an elongated tube, a lining rotatabl y mounted in said tube and almost wholly inclosed by the latter, a shaft longitudinally slidable in said lining and carrying a feed-wheel at its inner extremity, and mechanical means located at the outer extremity of the attachment for unitedly rotating'the lining and shaft and independently moving the shaft longitudinallyin'the lining.

2. In an attachment of the class set forth, the combinatio'nof an elongated tube, -a lining rotatably mounted in said tube, coacting angle adjusting and designating means carried in part respectivelyby the tube andlining, a shaft longitudinallyslidable in the said lining and carrying a feed-wheel at its inner extremity, means for unitedly rotating the shaft and lining and simultaneously moving the angle-designatin g means to vary the angle of the said feed-wheel, and means for independently moving the shaft longitudinally'in the lining.

3; In an attachment of the class set forth, the combination offan elongated tube, a'lining almost wholly inclosed by and rotatably mounted in the said tube, the latter having diametrically-opposed longitudinally-extending slots therein, a spring-actuated shaft longitudinally slidable in the said lining and provided with adjustable projecting means to engage the slots in the lining to prevent rotation of the shaft, and means for longitudinally I adjusting the shaft.

4. In an attachment of the class set forth, the combination of a tube, a lining rotatably mounted in the said tube, a shaft slidingly mounted in the lining and held against rotation, a nut engaging the outer portion of the shaft for adjusting the latter longitudinally, the lining adjacent the sleeeve having a projecting device, a sleeve on the said nut and adjacent portion of the lining and having a slot therein through which the projecting device of the lining extends, a mantle adjustably mounted on the upper portion'. of said sleeve to take up wear by having portions thereof bear against the said projecting de- I00 vice and thereby overcome lost mot-ion, and means for maintaining the adjustment of the several parts.

5. In an attachment of the class setforth, the combination of a tube, a shaft slidingly mounted therein, the inner end of the shaft being reduced and having a projection, and a holder for a feed-wheel having a sleeve at its outer end with slots therein to engage the said projection and insure accurate registra- 1 10 tion of the holder corresponding to 'a previous position occupied thereby on the shaft end.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 

